Cross-border terrorism will have consequences, India tells Pak

In a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, New Delhi has made it clear to its neighbor that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably have consequences.

“Pakistan has long used cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbors. It has attacked our Parliament, our financial capital Mumbai, market places and pilgrimage routes. The list is long. If such a country talks about violence anywhere, it is hypocrisy at its worst,” Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan said as India exercised its “right of reply” to Mr Sharif’s comments in his speech.

Noting that the UNGA witnessed a travesty when Mr Sharif addressed the world body, she said it was surprising that a country led by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trafficking and transnational crime , had the audacity to attack the largest countries in the world. democracy.

Ms Mangalanandan, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, said it is even more extraordinary that a country with a history of rigged elections is talking about political choices, even in a democracy. “The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory. And in fact has continuously used terrorism to disrupt the elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India,” she added.

Noting that reference was made to a proposal of strategic restraint by Mr Sharif, she said there can be no agreement with terrorism. It is ridiculous that a nation that committed genocide in 1971 and that ruthlessly persecutes its minorities, even now dares to talk about bigotry and phobias. The world can see with its own eyes what Pakistan really is,” she added.

The Indian diplomat said that Pakistan has been hosting global terrorist Osama Bin Laden for a long time and it is a country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents around the world.

Earlier, Sharif said in his speech that India should roll back the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and engage in dialogue with Pakistan for a “peaceful” resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“Let me say in no uncertain terms that Pakistan will respond very decisively to any Indian aggression. Therefore, to secure lasting peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since August 5, 2019 and engage in dialogue for peaceful peace. resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” he asserted.

Mr Sharif claimed that India was “in the process of vastly expanding its military capabilities,” which are essentially deployed against Pakistan.

“Italy (India) is massively expanding its military capabilities, which are essentially being deployed against Pakistan. The war doctrines foresee a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang. India thoughtlessly rejected Pakistani proposals for mutual strategic restraint against the regime. The country’s leadership has often threatened to cross the Line of Control and take over Azad Kashmir,” he said.

The Pakistani leader said: “Instead of pursuing peace, India has reneged on its commitments to implement Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. These resolutions mandate the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their fundamental right to self-determination. Since August 5, 2019, India has taken unilateral illegal steps to impose what its leaders frankly call a final solution for Jammu and Kashmir.”